Lifting grapple



une 2S, 1932. @E GORE 1,865,380 VLIF'TING GRAPPLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 28, 1931 Invenfo: CHE/ E, M0055 z June 28, 1932. c. E. MooRE LI FTING GRA'PPLE Filed Aug. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inveco:

(S4/QL E. MOEE,

Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL E. MOORE, 0F GARY, INDIANA., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SHEET AND TIN PLATE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY LIFTING GRAPPLE Application led August 2S, 1931.

This invention relates to a grapple, particularly to one especially adapted to lift annealing bottoms carrying packs of sheet metal.

Such bottoms, being subjected to much heat and wear, generally present to the hooks or tongs of a grapple a surface that is badly worn and deformed, the tongs or hooks sometimes slipping out of engagement therewith and allowing the bottom to fall.

Therefore, one of the objects of this inventor is to provide a grapple which will safely carry annealing bottoms without fear of dropping them. Other objects may later become apparent.

Generally speaking, this invention is characterized by the use of a beam from which hook-ended arms are downwardly swung, these arms having projections on their top ends which are engageable with projections carried by locking members, these locking members being arranged to be moved into projection engaging position when lifting force is applied to the grapple. Other features are a set of push rods connected between these locking members and the tops of the hooks in such a manner that when the locking members are moved to projection engaging position these push rods will bear against the top of the hooks and act as a further safety lock. These and other features will now be described in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of a grapple constructed in accordance with this invention, and shown in lifting position.

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a crossesection on the line III-JH of Figure 1.

Figure 4f is a side elevation of Figure 1, and as the grapple there shown appears when not in lifting position.

Having reference to these drawings, there is shown a horizontal beam 2 from the ends of which hook-ended arms 3 are swung by means of pivots 4f, the top of these arms being provided with inwardly extending upwardly inclined levers 5 carrying weights 6 of theV proper size to counterbalance the arms. Between these arms 3 are triangular locking Serial No. 560,031.

members 7 rotatably carried by the beam 2 on pivots 8. These locking members have arcuately surfaced projections 9, these projections being` constructed so that the pivots 3 are at the axes of the arcs of their surfaces. The arms 3 have inwardly extend` ing projections 10 on their top ends, the projections 9 and 10 being interengageable by rotative movement of the locking members 7 about the pivots 8. Push rods 12 are piv-l otally connected to the outer upper corners of the locking members 7 and are in slotted connection with the tops of the arms 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the locking members 7 aie rotated to wards the middle of the beam 2 the arms 3 may be freely swung back and forth, as the projections 9 and 10 will be disengaged and the slotted push rods 12 will be swung inwardly so that the top ends of the arms may slide therein. Figure 1 shows the grapple in locking position, and Figure 2 shows it in unlocked position.

Springs 13 are connected to the beam 2 by a pin 14k and to the top inside ends of the g,

locking members 7 by pins 15, these springs normally urging these locking members into projection disengaging position. Near the pins 15 are pivoted links 16 which are in turn pivoted to an equalizing bar 17 carried by an,

equalized lifting link 18, a keeper bar 19 serving to maintain this link somewhere near a center position under the bar 17.

ln the example shown the beam 2 carries arms 3 and locking members 7 on each side; thereof, and is in the same plane with the push bars 12 and equalizing bar 17. The connecting link 16 is `of a Y-shaped cross-section so that its upper portion encompasses the equalizing bar 17 and its bottom portion isv Vbetween the locking members 7. A spreader 20 is fixed to each pair of arms 3 by a U-bolt 21 to insure proper spacing.

In use, a crane hook 22 is passed through the link 18, and the hooked ends of the arms 3 are arranged beneath an annealing bottom 22.

This can be easily done because of the fact that these arms are couiiterweighted and easily swung, the spring 13 holding the locking members 7 in unlocked position. Once;

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the arms are properly positioned the crane is operated to lift the annealing bottom 22. As the lifting force is applied to the equalizing rod 17 the connecting links 16 will apply a rotative movement to the locking members 7, so that the extensions 9 and 10 engage each other and the push bar 12 assumes the position preventing inward movement of the top endsof -the armsl.v` The. grapple whenin this position can'no;` possibly drop the annealing bottom 23, yet when this bottom is again set upon a floor the grapple will immediately assume an unlocked position, and the arms 3 may be freely swung. f'

Although a specific form of this invention has been shown and described in accordance with the patent statutes, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention thereto, ex-

cept as defined by the appended claims.

" I claim:

1. A lifting grapple comprising a beam,

downwardly' extending hook-ended arms swingingly carried by the ends of said beam, weights levered to said arms for counterbalancing the same, inwardly extending projections carried by the upper ends of said arms, locking members having projections engageable with said first named projections and pivotally carried by said beam, springs connected to said locking members and said beam for urging the former to a position where said projections are disengaged and an equalizing bar constructed and arranged to transmit lifting force to said grapple through said locking members so as to move the latter to a position where said projections interengage.

2. A liftingfgrapple comprising a beam, downwardly extending hook-ended arms swingin'gly carried by the ends of said beams,

Vancing the same, inwardly extending projections carried by the upper ends of said arms, f

locking members having projections engageable with said first named projections and pivotally carried by said beam, push rods connected to said locking members and the top ends of said arms, means biasing said locking members to a position where said projections are disengaged, and an equalizing bar constructed and 'arranged to transmit lifting force to said grapple through said locking'members so as'to move the latter to a position where said projections interengage. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 'my hand.

CARL E. MOORE.

inwardly extending projections carried by v the upper ends of said arms, locking members pivotally positioned on said beam Vand carrying arcuately faced projections for engaging said ranged in connection-with said locking members and the top ends of said arms, a'bar arranged in pivotal rotative connection with said locking members and springs for urging said locking members into projection disengaging position. Y

3. A lifting grapple comprising a substantially horizontal beam, downwardly extending ho'ok-ended arms swingingly carried by the ends of said beam, inwardly extending first named projections, rods'ar- .I y

grapple comprising a beam,

upwardly inclined levers fixed to the upper `ends of said arms, arm counter-balancing Weights on the free ends of said levers, in-

wardly extending projections carried by the Y upper endsof said arms, locking membersy pivotally positioned on said beam and carrying arcuately faced projections for engaging said first named projections, push rods arranged in slotted connection with said lockin members andthe top ends of said arms, a

li ting'force transmitting equalizing bar ar- 

